IM Alice Lee captured the lead vs. GM Irina Krush for the primary time in a match within the Grand Ultimate of the 2024 American Cup. GMs Levon Aronian and Wesley So had a peaceable day, making two attracts and leaving the destiny of their match solely on tomorrow.
The American Cup Grand Ultimate continues on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, at 2:20 p.m. ET/19:20 CET/11:50 p.m. IST.
Grand Ultimate:
Open: The Calm Earlier than The Storm
Within the classical recreation, So and Aronian appeared desperate to get to the quicker time management, heading into a fast Berlin draw.
Enjoying Black within the fast, So displayed rather more bold intentions, unleashing a Sicilian. As commentator GM Cristian Chirila added: “It has been a very long time since I’ve seen Wesley play a Sicilian… or something aside from contact the e-pawn.”
Aronian supplied his perspective on his facet of the opening: “It is a line that I make use of often, not a very nice line for White, simply to get a battle. He shocked me a bit with …a6, …Qc7.”
Within the early middlegame, Aronian opted for a slew of exchanges that led to a bishop and knight vs. rook ending. He pressed for a lot of strikes however wasn’t capable of generate successful possibilities, even when So made an inaccuracy. Because the 30-year-old grandmaster defined: “I blundered with 34…Re4, however thankfully it is nonetheless a draw as a result of all I must do is hunt his knight down.”
In his interview, So shared his emotions on the occasion to this point:
I am nonetheless alive. I will not have rated my possibilities very excessive 4 days in the past as a result of I needed to win three matches in a row, and particularly I needed to undergo Fabi, who’s very powerful, and likewise Ray, who’s in good kind. However I nonetheless have possibilities within the match. I’ll battle and provides my greatest.
I’ll battle and provides my greatest.
―Wesley So
Although the day ends with a peaceable consequence, a method or one other, the tie should be damaged on Wednesday because the gamers vie for to be the final participant standing.
Ladies’s: Lee Strikes First
Hoping to generate successful possibilities within the classical recreation, Krush opted for a uncommon line with positional nuances to discover as White. Chirila shared the thought behind her technique:
That is precisely how Irina normally defeats her youthful opponents: She offers her a easy―at the least at first sight―place the place she is aware of the way to play and the way to maneuver simply merely on a unique stage.
Within the fast spherical, Lee dealt with the white items with a newfound confidence, gaining a small but snug edge from the opening and urgent the entire recreation. Although the gamers reached an excellent queen and bishop ending, Lee continued to imagine in her place, making regular progress by combining technique with dynamics.
Because the gamers reached time bother, Krush made an inaccuracy, and Lee capitalized with out hesitation. Her essential victory is our Recreation of the Day. Get pleasure from the next evaluation by GM Rafael Leitao under.
Afterward, Lee shared: “I feel the primary day went fairly properly. I used to be capable of survive the classical recreation with Black, and naturally, this recreation went fairly properly. Nevertheless it’s not straightforward, and there are nonetheless two extra video games tomorrow.”
Lee has taken the lead in a match vs. Krush for first time ever in any of their six American Cup matches. How will the reigning champion attempt to strike again tomorrow to retain her crown?
The 2024 American Cup is an over-the-board match in St. Louis that includes a few of the strongest gamers in the US. Cut up into Open and Ladies’s sections, the gamers will compete in a double-elimination knockout bracket whereas contesting for his or her share of the $400,000 prize fund.
Earlier Protection:
- So, Lee Rise to Grand Finals
- Aronian, Krush Triumph In Champions Bracket
- Aronian Sweeps, Krush Leads, Comebacks For Caruana, So, Yu
- The Finals Are Set: Aronian vs. Robson, 5x Krush vs. Lee
- Krush, Lee Storm To 2-0; Eliminations Start
- Veterans Snigger Final: Aronian Wins Blitz Playoffs, Krush Recovers In Ladies’s
- Caruana, Lee, Tokhirjonova, Paikidze Begin With Double Wins
- Caruana, So, Krush, And Lee Headline 2024 American Cup
